Bianca Lopez (2.22.23)

Bianca Lopez is a co-founder/Project Director for Valley Improvement Projects. Below are my notes from a conversation with her on February 22, 2023.

Valley Improvement Projects has partnered with universities in the past. UC Berkeley has worked on a study of the pesticide notification system run by the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Modesto has one of the pilots for this program, but it hasn't been very useful. This is an example of an agency being forced to implement something by pressure from activist groups.

Many of the grassroots organizations in the Central Valley meet with agencies regularly, but the agencies don't communicate with each other. There's a lot of pointing fingers/shifting responsibility going on. For example, they're asking for restrictions on Telone (a pesticide)--for this, they need to talk to DPR, CARB, Natural Resources Agency, etc. They have standing meetings with CARB, the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Management District, CalEPA, DTSC, and some local agencies. In many cases, staff aren't very informed, they're relying on information being fed to them, which could be from EJ organizations but could also be from industries with an interest in greenwashing. These meetings were established by the California Environmental Justice Coalition, which mixes veteran activists (who have the clout to get these meetings) and real grassroots organizations without 501(c)3 status or offices. VIP is a co-facilitator at these meetings. Californians for Pesticide Reform is another key coalition, they have standing meetings with DPR. However, meetings aren't always that useful--they recently had an hour long meeting with CalEPA about an incinerator, all they learned in the meeting was that they'll get the information CalEPA already has in May.

Eastyard Communities for Environmental Justice is a group we should put the Avocado Heights Vaqueros in touch with--they worked on Exide in LA.

Coalitions are important for the work VIP and other Central Valley groups are doing for several reasons. First, there are member organizations that have access to data and analytical capacity that most grassroots organizations don't. They recently collaborated with Environmental Working Group, which can sort data and extract information from the massive public records requests they receive. Coalitions also allow organizations to learn what tactics from other settings have been useful for fighting greenwashing practices and addressing environmental injustice. For example, Bianca heard about another group doing a "funeral" for a hazardous facility, so she decided to do one for the incinerator in Modesto that their work is focused on. Coalitions are also beneficial for signing on to letters because it shows how many people/groups are invested.

On efforts to shut down Modesto's incinerator: It's old--about 30 years, which is the lifespan of the facility. At first they only knew about the toxic ash it emits. Later, they learned what other communities were dealing with and realized some of the same problems were present for them. They also learned from other communities about the legal loopholes used by government agencies and private comapnies--for example, the hazardous waste dump in Buttonwillow has been running without a permit for 20 years. Shutting down a garbage incinerator also requires learning about the alternatives and thinking about what kind of funding and changing habits (e.g. zero waste) are necessary. Right now is the time to move on this--the contract is up in four years (in 2027). Lawmakers are beginning to agree that it should be gone, but they still want a different kind of combustion that they can profit off of, like combustion for hydrogen fuel cells, because they want to make money off of waste. The consultant they hired is only contracted to review alternatives that include combustion. VIP's goal is to host a summit for officials to learn about zero waste and help them imagine what a zero waste community could look like, drawing on ideas that communities already have. Bianca feels that having a few elected officials act as champions would be really helpful/

On youth engagement: what gets youth engaged is being able to explore what's happening in their community. It's also important to include their cultural perspectives. VIP recently helped publish a report that young children are most at risk from pesticides. They emailed this report to all school districts in Stanislaus County, all city council members, and all of the county board of supervisors. Only a few have responded. They're now attending school board meetings, asking districts to support their ask and to share information with parents, or at least to allow VIP to use school space to host meetings. Some school board members are entirely detached from the information. Others have reached out afterward. Most school board members and principals don't fully understand current laws (1/4 mile buffer zone). Recently, there was Telone exposure at a school from application 7 miles away. Districts aren't willing to put their name on a letter but VIP is hoping that they're reaching out to Agricultural Commissioners on these issues. VIP hasn't been able to get in touch with the Agricultural Commissioner themselves. One of the obstacles they're facing is community leaders who have been present and active for a long time and have done good things but aren't willing to burn bridges with farmers, etc. by talking about this.

On farming: There are big farms like Blue Diamond, but they usually contract with smaller farmers. Agricultural Commissioners put out yearly reports that have info about who farms and what they farm. Dairy and almonds are the biggest industries. No one they know knows any farmers, so they haven't been able to get them in the room. This is something they know they're missing. The county board of supervisors is made up primarily of farmers or farm owners. They will show up to meetings but they clash when they do--farmers are dismissive.